Golf practice mat with pivotable bristle assemblies



I J n 24, 1 69 v M. E; OLIVER 3,451,683

GOLF PRACTICE MAT WITH PIVOTABLE BRISTLE ASSEMBLIES Filed 0%. 22, 1965 Sheet of 2 HA IIA M. E. OLIVER June 24, 1969 GOLF PRACTICE MAT WITH PIVO'IABLE BRISTLE ASSEMBLIES Sheet Filed Oct. 22, 1965 FIG. 6

United States Patent:

Int. Cl. A63b69/36, 57/00 US. Cl. 273-195 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The practice golf mat has a plurality of parallel brush strips and spacer strips, with the brush strips being pivotally secured to a backing member and movable through a limited arc. Tees are provided which are carried by the spacer strips.

This invention relates to a practice golf mat composed of a pluralityof parallel brush strips pivotally secured to a suitable backing.

There are numerous known and proposed golf mats, for example, those disclosed in the following US. patents: 2,989,766 issued June 27, 1961; 2,790,640 issued Apr. 30, 1957; 3,129,944 issued Apr. 21, 1964; and 2,668,711 issued Feb. 9, 1954.

It has been found that in mats where the bristles are rigidly secured, such bristles have a tendency to wear very rapidly. This probably is due to the fact the clubs striking the same have a tendency to cut the bristles. Also, it has been found that in striking the bristles with a club, it has a tendency to move or dislodge the entire mat from its normal position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure wherein the natural feel of striking turf is more closely resembled and this is accomplished by providing a mat with a plurality of parallel brush strips pivotally secured to a suitable backing member wherein each of the strips is movable through a limited are.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved golf mat structure which is relatively resilient and thereby absorbs some of the energy when struck by a golf club to reduce or substantially eliminate the movement of the mat from its normal position.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is an oblique partial sectional view of a golf mat constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the mat shown in FIG. 1, and;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section along section 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a strip portion utilized in forming the mat prior to fraying of the rope to form a brush as illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the rope frayed to form a brush;

FIG. 6 is an oblique elevational view of a tee support for use with the golf mat constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view illustrating a modification to the practice golf mat.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, shown in FIG. 1 is a golf mat 10 consisting of a plurality of brush strips 11 disposed side-by-side in spaced parallel relationship and pivotally secured to a suitable rigid backing member 12. Each of the parallel strips consists of a number of 3,451,683 Patented June 24, 1969 brush sections 11A disposed end-to-end in abutting relation.

Each of the brush sections (see FIGS. 4 and 5) consists of a U-shaped member 13 having a plurality of loops 15' of fibers each anchored by a pin 14. The pins traverse the legs 13A of the U-shaped member and project through apertures 133 in the legs, the ends being peaned or riveted thereby retaining the pin in position. In an actual sample, the U-shaped member 13 consists of sheet metal and the loops of fiber are sisal rope individually anchored thereto by tacks extending through apertures in alignment in the two legs of the member 13. Obviously the U-shaped member 13 may be wood, metal, plastic or the like, the requisite being that it provide an anchor for the looped fibers. Also the brush proper may be made of hair, glass fibers or the like.

Individual anchorage permits replacement in the event damage occurs to any one or a number of the ropes. It is very unlikely however, that such replacement would occur and instead one would replace an entire brush section. The member 13 alternatively may be a molded member having the loops 15' anchored therein. Anchoring may be effected by embedding an end portion of the loop in the member during the molding thereof.

The pins 14 or other anchoring means are disposed vertically above the bight portion of the U-shaped memher to provide a space therebetween for receiving a rod 15. In case of a molded member, there may be formed during molding a bore extending longitudinally along the member. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the parallel strips are pivotally secured to the backing member 12 by the rod 15 which is anchored at opposed ends by a pair of transverse end members 16. The brush elements mounted on the rods are disposed in each of the respective strips in end-to-end alignment. If desired, the rod 15 may be secured to the backing member 12 in any convenient manner, the requisite being that the brush section be pivotable with respect to the rod.

By this arrangement each of the parallel brush strips is pivotable through a selected are, dependent upon the lateral spacing of adjacent strips, about an axis parallel to the latter. In order to allow for expansion of the rope, in its treatment in forming a simulation of turf, the brush strips are spaced a considerable distance apart and, thus, to restrict their arcuate movement there is provided spacing elements 17 between adjacent brush strips. The spac ing elements are substantially free floating and are interconnected by a resilient wire 19 (such as a bicycle spoke) threaded therethrough and secured at opposed ends to angle members 20 and 21. The angle members 20 and 21 are rigidly secured to the backing member 12 by screws or the like through respective leg portions 20A and 21A. These leg portions terminate inwardly of the marginal edge of the backing member as will be seen hereinafter. The brush strips, being pivotable about their respective anchoring rods 15, provide a mat closely simulating natural turf. The pivotal movement allows the strips to deflect when struck by the head of the club. This also reduces the cutting action of the club head on the bristles prolonging the life of the latter.

Rebound of the brush elements to a normal upright position may be faciliated by the provision of resilient members adjacent the side of the brush elements. FIG. 7 illustrates such a modification. Shown therein is an abutment -R consisting of a strip of relatively soft, resilient material such as rubber or the like, fastened to a spacer element '17. An abutment R may be provided on only the strips 17 located outside of the brush elements (as for example shown in FIG. 7) or alternatively on all of the spacers or selected ones thereof. The abutment R in any event is disposed in face to face relation with one of the legs 13A of the brush strip. It is fastened to the spacer when such is used. However, in the absence of spacer elements, the resilient abutment may be secured to a side portion of an adjacent brush strip. The abutment R may be a continuous strip, or strategically located short lengths.

In the embodiment illustrated the pivot axis is adjacent the lower end of the brush strip, i.e. it is located adjacent the bight of the channel member 13. Alternatively the pivot axis may be disposed adjacent the opposite edge of the channel, i.e. adjacent the free ends of the legs of the channels or at the sace position intermediate the free ends of the legs and the bight of the channel member.

It will be noted that the rods 15 in the structure extend the full length of the mat and are anchored as previously mentioned at opposed ends by the blocks 16. These rods may be resilient material so as to be deflectable and thereafter returnable to their original position. The resiliency of these rods, together with the pivotal movement of the brush sections about such rods, provides means of absorbing energy which results from the mat being struck by the golf club during practice. Without the use of the resilient rods and pivotal movement, such striking of the mat results in moving the mat from its normal position. This is one of the advantages of the present device over known structures. Furthermore, it is this deflection which reduces cutting and wear of the fibers through continued striking by the head of a golf club.

FIG. 4 illustrates an individual element as previously mentioned consisting of a channel and U-shaped portions of sisal rope individually secured thereto. The brushes in the form shown in this figure are treated such that the rope is unraveled into its natural fiber as shown in FIG. 5 and then dyed a colour to simulate that of grass.

It is obvious that the length of the individual elements may be varied and also, it is obvious that spacer blocks may be utilized in the place of individual brush sections on the anchoring rods whereby various lengths of simulated turf may be accomplished without modifying the existing structure. Also there may be provided a plurality of tarnseversely disposed brush section supports P preferably these are located at the junction of adjacent brush sections as indicated in FIG. 3. These strips abut the bight portion of channels 13 and thereby maintain all the brush sections at substantially the same level.

The brush portion of the mat is surrounded by a rubber flange 25 secured at one marginal edge thereof to the backing member 12 by an angle member 26. The angle member 26 has an upper horizontal leg portion 26A which bears upon the marginal edge of the rubber strip. The inner edge of the flange or leg 26A terminates outwardly of the respective leg portions 20A and 221A of the members 20 and 21. The rubber flange or strip 25 extends upwardly with its other marginal edge adjacent the brush portion of the mat. The particular positioning of the flanges in the angle members permits removing the brush portion from the backing member 12 without altering or removing the angle member 26 or the rubber flange 25. The golf mat may additionally include a corrugated rubber strip about the periphery of the lower face of the backing member or altenratively a plurality of transverse strips as shown. This strip facilitates retaining the golf mat in position during use.

In actual use, the golf ball may be placed directly on the upper surafce of the brush portion, or alternatively, the ball may be set upon a suitable tee. The tee may be of such construction as to rest upon the brush, or alternatively, be carried by a spacer element '17. Shown in FIG. 6 is a tee 30 consisting of a first U-shaped portion 31 having a stem .32 projecting upwardly therefrom. The stem 32 is made of a flexible material, preferably rubber, and includes an axial bore 33 adjacent its upper end adapted to receive the stem portion of a normal golf tee. The tee 30 in use may be disposed between adjacent par- 4 allel strips of the mat with the U-shaped body fitting over a spacer element 17.

The mat described for use in practicing golf may be used on most any surface, however preferably there is provided a platform of about five inches in height for the golfer to stand on. The platform assures that for the most part the tips of the bristles are used, and not the sides of the brush, and thus cutting down any damage and wear which would occur, and also assuring that any wear which does occur is substantially even on the upper surface. The platform may be in the form of a suitcase utilized to store the practice mat and which opens up such that the outer surfaces form a platform. This not only provides the necessary platform but also provides a convenient device for storing and tarnsporting the mat.

I claim:

1. A practice golf mat comprising:

a rigid backing member;

a series of brush strip assembles located side-by-side on said rigid backing member, said brush strip assemblies of said series each including an elongated holding member having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of bristles upstanding from and carried by said elongated holding member, the longitudinal axes of said elongated holding members being in spaced parallel relationship to each other and the bristles of said holding members jointly forming a continuous surface simulating natural turf; and

securing means for pivotally securing said elongated holding members to said rigid backing member to enable each of said brush strip assemblies to pivot independently and freely between limits about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of said elongated holding members.

2. A golf mat according to claim 1 including spacers, one of said spacers being located between each adjacent pair of the elongated holding members.

3. A golf mat according to claim 2 wherein the spacers are free floating and are retained by a rod-like member passing through said spacers and secured at its opposite ends to said rigid backing member.

4. A golf mat according to claim 1 including resilient means located between at least some adjacent pairs of the gagement by an adjacent elongated holding member ment thereof.

5. A golf mat according to claim 1 including spacers, one of said spacers being located between each adjacent pair of the elongated holding members, and resilient means carried by at least some of said spacers for engagement by an adjacent elongated holding members during pivotal movement thereof.

*6. A golf mat according to claim -1 wherein the elongated holding members of the brush strip assemblies have two spaced-apart parallel leg portions connected by a bight portion and wherein lower portions of the bristles of said brush strip assemblies are located between said leg portions of said elongated holding members.

7. A golf mat according to claim 6 wherein the securing means includes rod members, one of said rod members securing each brush strip assembly to the rigid backing member, said rod members passing through the elongated holding members between the leg portions and adjacent the bight portions, opposite ends of said rod members projecting beyond said elongated holding members and said opposite ends of said rod members being secured to said rigid backing member.

8. A golf mat according to claim 6 wherein each of the elongated holding members includes bristle anchoring means extending transversely form one of said leg portions to the other of said leg portions, and wherein said bristles pass around said anchoring means with opposite end portions thereof upstanding from said elongated holding members.

9. A golf mat according to claim 1 including spacers, one of said spacers being located between each adjacent pair of elongated holding members and wherein said elongated holding members of the brush strip assemblies include two spaced-apart parallel leg portions connected by a bight portion, lower portions of the bristles of said brush strip assemblies being located between said leg portion of said elongated holding members.

10. A golf mat according to claim 9 wherein the securing means includes rod members, one of said rod members securing each brush strip assembly to the rigid backing member, said rod members passing through the elongated holding members between the leg portions and adjacent the bight portions, opposite ends of said rod members projecting beyond said elongated holding meni- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,419,636 6/1922 MacDonald 273-496 X GEORGE I. MA-RLO, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 273-211 

